Shelton leaders hope plan for Cannabis dispensary at Crown Point Center goes up in smoke
Some of the city’s top officials led a chorus of opposition Wednesday to what would be the city’s first and only cannabis dispensary.
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Rodeo Cannabis has sought Planning and Zoning Commission approval to open in 2,000-square-feet of vacant space — in the former bank location right next to newly opened Leo Tobacco & Cigar — at Crown Point Center off Bridgeport Avenue.
“We don’t want this here,” said Board of Aldermen President John Anglace Jr. “We passed an ordinance saying we do not want this here ... but you’re still here. This will only cause us problems.”
The Board of Aldermen, at an April meeting, unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting all types of cannabis establishments and retail sales of cannabis or cannabis-related items, an action fully supported by Mayor Mark Lauretti, who often stated that cannabis sales had no place in the city.
Medical marijuana sales are already banned in Shelton.
Even with the ban, Rodeo Cannabis’ application could still be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission because it was filed prior to the ban’s approval.
Rodeo Cannabis representatives, including co-founder and CEO Arthur Linares, were on hand for Wednesday’s public hearing. Linares is a former Connecticut state senator and husband of Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons.
The application first came in as a request for a certificate of zoning compliance. The commission refused to discuss the application at a meeting earlier this month, citing legal counsel stating it was not properly filed.
Attorney Dominick Thomas, representing Rodeo Cannabis, then filed an application with the commission for a minor modification to the already approved Planned Development District for the property to allow the use.
“This is a retail use, and retail is approved for this development,” said Thomas. “It may be a new retail use because of the changes in the state law (regarding cannabis sales) but it is no different than if it was a liquor store or a smoke shop.
“The commission doesn’t have the ability to exclude uses it does not like,” Thomas added.
Commissioners questioned Rodeo Cannabis reps about potential impacts to parking in the center as well as how many people could be in the establishment at one time.
One concern was taken off the table prior to the meeting. Rodeo Cannabis removed its plans to use the old bank drive thru as a method to dispense cannabis purchases. The company instead presented plans to use the old drive thru for employee parking.
“Shelton doesn’t need this type of retail,” said Alderman Cris Balamaci, who was also joined by fellow aldermen Anthony Simonetti and Eric McPherson in opposing the cannabis dispensary.
“It would be a terrible decision ... I hope you oppose it,” Balamaci added.
Residents who spoke against the dispensary cited data on the negative impacts of cannabis and the potential for increased crime or drug use with it in the community.
The commission closed the hearing Wednesday, with Chair Virginia Harger saying this will be discussed at a future meeting.
The aldermen created the ordinance prohibiting cannabis establishments after the Planning and Zoning Commission at a March meeting deadlocked, 3-3, on a resolution to prohibit such shops. The deadlock meant the motion failed, allowing applications to be filed starting April 1.
Only hours after the commission's moratorium ended, Linares filed an application to open a hybrid medical and recreational dispensary in Crown Point Center.
